Can acupuncture be an effective treatment for anxiety and panic disorders in addition to other treatments, like therapy and/or medication? Acupuncture For Anxiety and Panic Disorders Considered one of the most popular types of alternative medicine, acupuncture has grown in popularity as a way to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other anxiety disorders. With the growth in popularity, more research has been focused on treatment for panic and anxiety symptoms. ( Pilkington K. 2010 ) Acupuncture can enhance personal wellness. Acupuncture is generally safe and has few side effects. It can help reduce physical and mental symptoms like tension, pain, and rapid heart rate. Other alternative medicine practices include yoga, therapeutic massage, herbal medicines, and aromatherapy. Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture is a healing technique originating from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The practice is ba...
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Can understanding how nociceptors function and their role in processing pain signals help individuals who are managing injuries and/or living with chronic pain conditions? Nociceptors Nociceptors are nerve endings that detect harmful stimuli, such as extreme temperatures, pressure, and chemicals, and signal pain. They are the body's first defense against potentially damaging environmental inputs. Nociceptors are in the skin, muscles, joints, bones, internal organs, deep tissues, and cornea. They detect harmful stimuli and convert them into electrical signals. These signals are sent to the brain's higher centers. The brain interprets the signals as pain, which prompts the body to avoid the harmful stimulus. Nociceptors, often called pain receptors, are free nerve endings all over the body. They play a pivotal role in how the body feels and reacts to pain. The main purpose of a nociceptor is to respond to damage to the body by transmitting signals to the spinal cord and brain. ...
Can knowing about wrist sprains—their types, symptoms, causes, and diagnoses—help develop an effective treatment program? Wrist Sprain Wrist sprains are injuries that affect ligaments that attach bone to bone. They occur after a fall from work overuse, house tasks, during sports activities, or with other direct trauma. Symptoms of a wrist sprain include: Pain Swelling Bruising Decreased range of motion Weakness Tingling The injury affects the ligaments and soft tissue structures connecting bone to bone. Mild wrist sprains typically heal within a few weeks; most heal without complications in six to 12 weeks. ( National Health Service, 2020 ) However, severe injuries can require surgery, physical therapy, and months to recover fully. Grades and Types The three grades of sprains are graded by the severity of the injury ( American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2024 ) Grade 1 Ligaments are stretched; this is considered a mild sprain. The injury may heal in one to three weeks with s...
Can knowing how to stretch your back help reduce pain and improve your range of motion? Stretch Your Back Over time, muscle tension can cause significant back pain and increase the risk of a back injury. Getting into a regular back stretching routine can help prevent back and spinal issues. These exercises can be performed when your back hurts to ease a backache or to avoid future problems. However, before beginning an exercise or stretch regimen, talk to your healthcare provider about any questions and what is safe for you. A few things to be mindful of are: When stretching, don't try to push past your pain limit. Listen to your body, which leads to a calmer nervous system. Take special care when stretching during pregnancy, as the hormones supporting your pregnancy could lead to overstretching or injury. Warm Up Stretching cold muscles can lead to injury. Always warm up first. Do between five and 10 minutes of mild activity, such as walking. Apply heat for 15 to 20 minutes befo...
For individuals who are looking to lower blood pressure, can walking help? Walking To Lower Blood Pressure A walking regimen is an accessible workout that can be done almost anywhere at no cost, effectively lowering blood pressure and improving overall health. Studies show that individuals who use walking as a workout for three months have improved systolic blood pressure, which is the top number that measures the pressure in the arteries as the heart beats. ( McMullan S., Nguyen C., & Smith D. K. 2022 ) How It Works Walking is an excellent way to get active. It can be done almost anywhere, including on a treadmill, outdoors, or around the house. Exercising lowers blood pressure by strengthening the heart, leading to the heart pumping blood more effectively when it is stronger. This causes less resistance to the blood vessels, which lowers overall blood pressure. ( Hegde S. M., & Solomon S. D. 2015 ) The benefits of walking include: ( American Heart Association, 2024...
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The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to contact us.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*
